The top 5 highest grossing movies of 2016

The internet has changed the way we do almost everything, and mostly for the better. For instance, you can get comprehensive car insurance and online life insurance quotes without even having to speak to a call centre agent. But there are things that, while you can do them online, it’s sometimes better to do it the old-fashioned way. Case in point: watching a movie. Classic date night is still a trip to the movies: buttery popcorn, neon-colored slushies, death looks at the person annoyingly crackling their small packet of jelly tots for 30 minutes, and watching the latest blockbuster hit – it’s all part of the sensory experience that’s hard to replicate in your lounge.

If you’re a movie junkie, find out if your favourite films of 2016 have made it into the five highest-grossing ones this year so far. Hint: if you like superhero movies, you’re not alone.

Number 5: Deadpool

Deadpool‘s success can be credited to a number of factors –the clever marketing of the film, which they satirically sold as a Valentine’s Day picture; the sardonic humour of the main character; the hilarious lead played by Ryan Reynolds; and of course, it’s a superhero film.

Plot

Wade Wilson is a former Special Forces operative turned mercenary, who has discovered he’s got cancer. In an attempt to find a cure for it, he agrees to undergo an experiment that, rather than curing him, leaves him scarred and disfigured, but also leaves him with accelerated healing powers. He then adopts his superhero alter-ego, Deadpool, and goes after the man responsible for the experiment in an attempt to find a cure for his scarring.

Ratings

IMDB: 8.2/10

Rotten Tomatoes: 83%

Number 4: The Jungle Book (2016)

One of the most beloved children’s stories saw a facelift this year – The Jungle Book has made it to number 4 on the worldwide box office list.

Plot

If you’ve never seen the original animated movie, it’s the story of a boy who is raised in the jungle by wolves. The boy-cub, Mowgli, is threatened by Shere Khan the tiger, whom Mowgli tries to escape with help from his animal friends.

Not only is the tale a classic, but it’s told in a beautiful way with spell-binding live action and animations.

Ratings

IMDB: 7.9/10

Rotten Tomatoes: 95%

Number 3: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Who would win in a fight – Batman or Superman? This is a question that has divided DC Comics fans for decades, so Hollywood made a movie to settle the answer once and for all.

Or did they?

Plot

In short, the two superheroes suspiciously think the other is a threat, and as such attempt to stop the other.

Despite doing so well at the box office, the film received generally negative reviews from Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic, The Guardian, and other notable critics, websites, and publications.

Ratings

IMDB:  7.1/10

Rotten Tomatoes: 27%

Number 2: Zootopia

Walt Disney Pictures has been entertaining children and adults for almost a century thanks to its innovation and ability to push the boundaries of technology and film. To this day, the world still enjoys films built on the legacy of Walt Disney’s creative genius.

Plot

The bustling animal metropolis of Zootopia is composed of a variety of neighbourhoods filled with a diverse range of creatures, complete with its own police force.

When a rookie officer named Judy Hopps joins the force, she realises that it’s tough being the first-ever bunny in the police. She jumps (excuse the pun) at the first opportunity to prove herself and ends up partnering with a wise-cracking, scam-artist fox to solve a mystery.

Reviews

IMDB: 8.3/10

Rotten Tomatoes: 98%

Number 1: Captain America: Civil War

The highest-grossing movie of 2016 so far is another superhero movie, and this one is also about superheroes battling it out amongst one another. Except this time it’s Marvel Comic characters taking on each other.

Plot

In the quest to safeguard humanity, a little collateral damage is bound to occur. After the Avengers unintentionally cause a lot of destruction pursuing a criminal, political powers are prompted to insist on a system of accountability for them. The Avengers are divided into two camps, one that supports the decision, and one that resists it. The story follows this battle between them.

The film was critically well-received and was lauded for its “thought-provoking themes” by Rotten Tomatoes.

Reviews

IMDB: 8.2/10

Rotten Tomatoes: 90%

You might not be battling superheroes every day or fighting beside an animal police force, but it’s still important to have life cover to make sure that your loved ones are taken care of should anything happen to you.